Conservative or Liberal, Deist or Pagan, Jersey transplant or Lehigh Valley native, we're all in this mess together. Let's talk. Let us do no harm. Today's one-liner: "The shortest way to the distinguishing excellence of any writer is through his hostile critics." Richard LeGallienne

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Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Four LV Legislators Will Skip Pa Society Gala

Yesterday, I pointed to the hypocrisy of state legislators and the Governor attending an upper crust gala with the Pa Society at Manhattan's Waldorf Astoria when they have demonstrated a complete inability to adopt a state budget. I contacted all members of the Lehigh Valley delegation. I've heard nothing from the senators, although I'm unsure my email to Senator Maria Scavello went through. I did hear from several state representatives, all of whom told me they will pass on the high society, especially if there's no budget.

State Rep. Steve Samuelson: "I will not attend. In fact, I have never attended the Pennsylvania Society.

1. - We have work to do in Harrisburg.

2. - Also, why isn’t this event held in Pennsylvania each year?

3. - And since February 2015, the Waldorf Astoria – the site of the “Pennsylvania Society” – the has been owned by a Chinese insurance company ...

So, why would anyone who seeks to promote Pennsylvania’s economic prospects travel to New York City and boost the Chinese economy?

State Rep. Pete Schweyer: "Very simply, I will not be attending the PA Society Gala. I cannot in good conscience attend such an event in the absence of a budget. Of course I think we should be here Monday, November 30th as well; alas we aren’t scheduled for session at this point."

State Rep. Bob Freeman: "I will not be attending the PA Society Gala."

State Rep. Justin Simmons: "I will not be attending PA Society if the budget is not passed by then (highly doubt it will be)."

Several state reps have failed to respond, but my emails were bouncing, so don't hold a failure to rely against them.

OK, as Thanksgiving approaches, I give thanks that we are fortunate enough to be represented in Harrisburg by a fine Representative Steve Samuelson, and that the Lehigh Valley is fortunate enough to also boast Bob Freeman. I will have you know that I called Rep. Samuelson's office one day for some information, and he answered the phone himself, looked up the answer to my question, and talked to me for at least 45 minutes about various other matters on my list. What a fine representative and a fine human being.